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How To Cleanse Your Home With Smoke

Clear Your Space with Smoke and Sound Lesson from my Free Spirit Guidebook

Last year I had a friend reach out asking about how to cleanse the new house her family was moving into before they brought their stuff in there.

Based on the Clear Your Space with Smoke and Sound Lesson in my Free Spirit Guidebook, I created a simple ritual for her.

After being in our homes for so long over the last year I thought you might like to take advantage of the warmer weather and cleanse your space too.

How To Cleanse Your Home With Smoke

  • Make or purchase an herb bundle, like mugwort or juniper. (I do mention sage in my book but it has been brought to my attention that white sage is being overused so please do some research before buying and using – more on this below) 
  • Clearing and cleansing your space with smoke is an empowering way to rid your space of negative or stagnant energy. Think of it as energy that is not serving you or is no longer serving you.
  • In your case, this would be old energy from the previous owners.
  • While you are clearing, you can imagine that the negative or stagnant energy is being transmuted into neutral energy or clear space.
  • Create an intention for this work.
    • “Help me clear this space from old, stagnant energy.”
    • “With my intention and this smoke, I clear this space of any negative energy.”  
    • “As I move around this house with this smoke, I clear out old energy.”
    • Or use all 3!
  • Always be very careful with lit embers and ashes. You might like to use an incense holder, seashell, or similar object to catch ashes. Be mindful to put out your smoke after you are done clearing or allow it to burn out with supervision.
  • Allow the smoke to go into areas under chairs, under your bed, in corners, nooks and crannies, and so on. 
  • Feel free to play music, especially if you are new to this. Just make it fun.
  • After, protect and bless the space by imagining white light filling the space or a bubble or angels around the space or spritzing with rosewater or placing crystals around. You might like to have a special room spray or candle to use for a while.
  • This would be a beautiful time to set an intention for your home or prayer. Something like:
    • “May this house be filled with love and light. A beautiful, safe place for our family to grow and flourish.”
    • “May God, Angels, Universe, protect this house and fill it with love. We look forward to filling it with joy and comfort every day.”
    • “This house is now ready to be filled with the light and love of our family. We look forward to creating many happy memories here.”
    • Again, a combo of all 3 works too.
  • Have fun with this! Doing rituals like this really helps you feel the marking of a transition in your life when you are moving or shifting into a new chapter. The smoke from the herb bundle is a part of the ritual but your energy and intention are what will really shift the energy.
  • Don’t like smoke? You can do this whole thing with sounds like chimes or bells.

Feel free to reach out with any questions!

If you want some added support, consider working with me one-on-one or dive into my Free Spirit Guidebook to help you create fun, positive shifts on a regular basis!

Resources about White Sage:

I had a local Indigenous artist reach out to me about mentioning sage in my book. She told me about how the act of smudging with white sage is a sacred act for many Indigenous communities. We ended up having a very informative conversation over Instagram about cultural appropriation and how I can be a better ally. I want to share some of the resources she shared with me along with some others I found doing my own research.

Sage, Smudging, and New Age Spirituality

Alternatives to White Sage

Cleansing Without Sage

The Ethics of Burning Sage, Explained

The inspiration for the Clearing Your Space with Smoke and Sound Lesson in my book came from the fact that smoke cleansing has been a practice in many cultures for centuries including my Celtic heritage. When I have cleared myself and my spaces with smoke it has been so healing for me and I want to share it with others.

I try to be very intentional and respectful with my work and am always open to learning more and moving forward in the right direction. I will be making some edits in the second edition of my Free Spirit Guidebook and am grateful for the way I was called in about how I might be harming Indigenous communities with my work. I encourage you to do your own research and, if you do love sage, please consider garden sage or buying from ethically sourced businesses. If you would like to make your own, check out this article: Herbal Allies for Energy Clearing.

This is also on my blog: THE PROBLEM WITH USING WHITE SAGE

5 Minute Heart Chakra Meditation

Need an energetic boost? I created a 5 minute Heart Chakra Meditation for one of my clients and she has loved it so much that she started sharing it with her friends. So I thought I would share it with you too.

There is still so much uncertainty in the world and I have found that the best way forward comes from an energy of love.

This is a great way to get into a meditation habit too. Try listening to it daily or weekly and watch your life unfold in beautiful ways.

To amp up the energy, feel free to repeat the affirmation “I am loving and lovable.” and chant the sound Yam more than one time.

Enjoy!

If you like how this felt and want more, pick up a copy of Tend To Your Vibration.

Experts Reveal How to Make Your Home a More Zen Space in 2021: Guest Post From Redfin

After a whirlwind of a year in 2020, many of us are looking for a positive and fresh start to the year – and a great way to do this is by making your home a place of zen.

It’s likely that we’ll be spending plenty of time at home still, whether it’s because of remote working, virtual schooling, or you’ve just gained a new-found love for your home.

So, it’s more important than ever to make your home a place of zen. To help you transform your space into a place of peace and serenity, we asked experts across the country for their best advice. All the way from San Diego, CA to Washington, DC, here’s how they say you can easily make your home a more zen space.

Have a sacred space in your home that’s only used for relaxation or meditation. This can be a simple corner that you add an amethyst crystal, scented candle, and special accent pillow. Or even a small area in your back patio that has a rock garden or fountain that your intention is to unwind and keep calm, soothing energy in. Creating your own sacred space, especially on the heels of 2020, will give you a secure spot to find your zen so you can anchor your balance in 2021. – Cathleen Miller, Intuitive Lifestyle Success

Be intentional with what you hang on your walls. Your home is a space that should feel like a sanctuary, so when choosing artwork, pictures, and other decor, avoid choosing random items. You want to ensure the items elicit a positive energy or have meaning to you. This will keep the energy in your home a high vibe and a happy place to be. – Nia Carrillo, Eclectic Wellness SD

Energetically clear your space. You can hire a Reiki (energy healing) practitioner or do it yourself. Briefly light a bit of sage or palo santo and move from room to room, dispersing smoke from the ember while repeating an intention for your home. It could be something like, “I invite only the highest vibrational energies into this space: love, light, and wisdom.” – Heather McCutcheon

Let go of stuff. When your home is cluttered and full of things that don’t bring joy or just suffocate the space, it translates to how you feel there – leaving you feeling blocked and suffocated and your mind overwhelmed. Go through each room and closet creating a bag to sell, donate, and throw away. Start with the room you interact in the most. – Marni April, WholeU Wellness & Intuitive Energy Medicine

Place granite at the four corners of your bed or your bedroom to promote peaceful sleeping. While most crystals bring in energies of the sun, granite brings in earth energy that can make you feel more grounded and promote feelings of safety. Revered by groups such as the Masons, granite is often an overlooked stone by those who work with rocks and crystals. You can easily buy small granite boulders from your local landscaping store. – Lauren Torres, EarthBLISS

Surround yourself with items that bring you joy. Crystals, for example, are believed to have unique properties. If you are looking for stones that will encourage calm and instill a sense of peace in your home, I suggest Fluorite. Fluorite is said to be one of the ultimate soothing stones by neutralizing negative energy and inspiring mellow vibes and clarity. – Marie Ortega, Feathered Outlaw

Place a crystal in each room to promote positivity, peace, and zen in your space. Start with the common areas by placing black obsidian and selenite in the rooms to keep the energy clear, followed by placing a crystal in each bedroom. Adults and teens can benefit from a strong positive stone, such as carnelian, citrine, and sunstone. Younger children may prefer a soothing blue stone such as aquamarine, blue lace agate, and celestite. – ​Claire Harrison, Jonquil Reiki

A tranquil and zen home starts from you. Simple daily practices designed to consistently support a grounded and uplifting vibration within yourself will help ensure your home radiates love and light. Clearing up your energetic vibration creates the home of your dreams. – Healing Channels

Let sound clear stagnant energy. A simple way to shift the energy in your home is to clear your space with sound. Move around your home with chimes, bells, a singing bowl, clapping, a hand drum, or even music from your phone and imagine the sound reverberating around and into all of the nooks and crannies of your space shaking up and clearing negative or stagnant energy. After, protect and bless the space by imagining white light filling the space or a bubble or angels around the space or spritzing with rosewater or placing crystals around. – Kerry Burki, Author of the Free Spirit Guidebook

Little luxuries create a more zen space. My one tip to adding more peace and tranquility to your home is adding little luxuries, such a facial steamer, oil diffuser, or silk pajamas. It’s the little things that make a big difference and now you’ll be feeling more luxurious and zen, just in time for bed. – Arielle Simone

Let movie quotes lighten the space. In my home, this is one way we keep everyone laughing or deeply connected because the right movie quote paints the scene, challenge, or opportunity quickly. With two dogs, two cats, two teenagers, and two grown-ups you may hear your favorite line from The Princess Bride, Chadman Boerick’s character in Black Panther, or the stars in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga to validate and feel what was shared. – Sarah Larsen

Create a healing environment to promote a more zen space. Your home is a sacred place, and the beginning of the year is the perfect time to create your own healing environment. Surround yourself with beauty and art. Feeling the energy of the love filling your home. – Mary Rockwood Lane, Healing with Hearts

Don’t forget to make your workspace zen. Since so many of us are now working from home, we suggest surrounding your workspace with crystals that are calming, loving, and protective.  Stones like rose quartz, amethyst, and clear quartz are amazing to promote overall wellness. You can easily keep those stones right by your desk at home in our gem-water bottle or reusable crystal straws. – Anjanette & Dominic Sinesio, Crystals for Humanity | Gem-Water

Originally published by Redfin

Christmas Visualization for Struggling Family Members or Loved Ones

Today I’m sharing a Christmas visualization for a struggling family member or loved one that has brought me deep comfort and peace over the years.

This gentle practice came into my life during a season when I was feeling emotionally overwhelmed by a family situation. If you’re carrying worry, fear, or heaviness for someone you love — or even for yourself — this visualization can help you release what you’re holding and allow support to come in.

While this visualization is rooted in a Christian tradition, I also share alternative versions using angels, Mother Earth, or universal loving energy, so you can adapt it in a way that feels aligned and soothing for you.

A few days before Christmas, I took my older son, Simon, to confession at a local church. At the time, I was deeply affected by a situation involving a family member who was struggling, and I found myself feeling emotionally drained and overwhelmed.

During confession, I shared what I was carrying with the priest. As I spoke, the weight of it all caught up to me, and I became emotional. He gently offered a Christmas visualization that I had never heard before — and it stayed with me long after that moment.

The Christmas Visualization

A Christmas Visualization for a Struggling Loved One

He invited me to imagine the first Christmas — the manger scene — and to picture baby Jesus already born, safe, loved, and cared for.

Then he asked me to imagine walking into that space with my struggling family member.

In this visualization:

  • Mary knows the baby is safe.
  • She turns her full attention to your loved one.
  • She sits with them, wraps her arms around them, and fills them with love, light, comfort, and guidance.

As Mary holds them, you are invited to relax — to release responsibility, fear, and control — knowing your loved one is being held with deep care.

This practice reminded me that I didn’t need to carry everything alone.

How I Continue This Practice

Over the years, I’ve continued this visualization in a way that feels natural and grounding.

Now, before bed, I often imagine my loved one in their own home. I picture Mary arriving gently, wrapping them in her arms, filling them with light, love, and a reminder of their own inner strength.

This practice has become a quiet, supportive ritual — one that gives both comfort and emotional space.

Alternative Visualizations

Other Gentle Visualization Options

If a Christian framework doesn’t resonate with you, here are a few alternative ways to practice this visualization:

  • Angels: Imagine one or more angels surrounding your loved one, holding them in loving, supportive energy.
  • Mother Earth: Picture your loved one in a peaceful natural setting — a meadow, ocean, forest, or snowy landscape — with nurturing energy rising from the earth and wrapping them in calm and care.
  • Universal Light: Visualize a warm, bright, supportive light surrounding them, offering peace, clarity, and emotional support.

You can also place yourself into any of these visualizations if you are the one who needs comfort.

If you are carrying worry for a family member — or quietly struggling yourself — I want you to know there is so much support available to you.

This Christmas visualization is an invitation to soften, to release what isn’t yours to hold, and to allow love to meet you where you are.

No matter how or what you are celebrating this season, I am holding you in light and love.


I will be taking the rest of the year off to spend time with family. Wishing you a peaceful end to 2020 and a hopeful start to 2021!

4 Tips to Gift Yourself Grace & Guidance

Gift yourself grace and guidance this holiday season! All of these tips are inspired by or based on lessons from my book, Tend To Your Vibration.

Tip 1:

FEELING ALL WORKED UP AND OVERWHELMED?

  • Take a moment and breathe.
  • Inhale through your nose and exhale out of your mouth.
  • Even add a sighing sound on the exhale if it feels good.
  • Do this at the very least 3 times.
  • This type of breath lowers your heart rate.
  • Every time you relax, your life will flow with more ease.

Add in some shoulder tools and neck massage more a whole self-care moment to yourself.

Gift yourself grace and guidance this holiday season! Remind yourself of this anytime you are taking things personally.

Tip 2:

FINDING THAT THE BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS IS PUTTING YOU IN A BAD MOOD?

* Remember that everyone is doing the best they can with the knowledge they have. That doesn’t mean their behavior is not annoying or possibly hurtful but try to remember that it is a reflection of them and their life experience and has nothing to do with you. (This might take time but can certainly help during this time of year!!!)

This change in thinking I learned from Don Miguel Ruiz and Louise Hay. It is not always easy but it can help you experience a bit more grace.

Gift yourself grace and guidance this holiday season! Here is the video version of Tip 3. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Ask for guidance!

Tip 3:

LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPOT OR THE PERFECT GIFT?

  • Ask your “runners” to go find it for you and then trust that they will. (Runners are guides that love to help you find things. You can view them as people, angels, guides or simply energy.)

You are supported by the energy of the universe!

Gift yourself grace and guidance this holiday season! Do what you need to do to be open to guidance. This might include gentle things like going for a walk, breathing or yoga. You might first need to get some pent up energy out through a loud scream, punching some pillows or dancing.

Tip 4:

WORRYING ABOUT THINGS GOING WRONG OR NOT BEING PERFECT?

  • Ask God/Spirit/Universe to take your worries away. Literally, ask that in your head or out loud. Then ask what you should do next. You might hear the words “relax” or you might get an actual sign about the right next step to take.

Remind yourself that you don’t have to figure out everything on your own. Stay open to creative possibilities!

For more tips check out Tend To Your Vibration.

Happy Holidays!

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